Putintseva Triumphs at Birmingham Classic, Clinching First Grass-Court Title
In a thrilling grass-court showdown at the Birmingham Classic, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva emerged victorious, defeating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 7-6 (10-8) to claim her first title on the surface. This triumph marked Putintseva’s first title in three years, with her previous triumphs coming on clay-courts.
The match saw Putintseva fight back from a break down in the final set, showcasing her resilience and determination. On her third match point, the 29-year-old capitalized as Tomljanovic’s forehand went wide, securing the coveted grass-court title.
“It’s my first on grass, and I don’t even know how I’m feeling because I wasn’t expecting this to happen at all,” Putintseva expressed. “It’s amazing, but also confusing, because I usually play my best tennis on the clay, and now all of a sudden, I’m performing well on the grass – but I’ll take it!”
For Tomljanovic, the defeat was a continuation of her search for a maiden WTA title, having lost her previous four finals. The Australian’s 2023 season has been marred by injury setbacks, which led to her dropping outside the top 100 rankings.
The hard-fought victory showcases Putintseva’s growing versatility, as she now adds a grass-court title to her clay-court achievements. This triumph is sure to bolster her confidence as she looks to make a strong impact on the upcoming grass-court swing.
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